Dream Productions is the new spin-off series of Pixar film Inside Out and it has already inspired fan theories
*Warning – this article contains minor spoilers for Dream Productions*
New Disney+ spin-off series Dream Productions is now streaming and seems to clear up fan theories surrounding ‘teen Riley’ and others about a possible Inside Out 3.
The much-loved Pixar film not only received a sequel earlier this year but now it has been given the television treatment. The new show expands the world inside the main character’s mind, in particular concentrating on the personified beings that create Riley’s dreams.
Be warned, below are minor spoilers for Dream Productions, including setting, its link to the original Inside Out film and the teen version of Riley.
An image shared on social media by fans portrayed three versions of the character Riley. Her toddler self, the pre-teen version as seen in Inside Out and an older teen with green hair. It is accompanied by text saying Me, Myself and Ri.
One fan posted it saying: “I need this poster in HD. Also, GOTH RILEY IS A THING!” Another fan who theorized this was Riley as she will appear in Inside Out 3: “I feel like this poster may be evidence that Dream Productions is set a bit further in the future from Inside Out 2, in the Inside Out timeline! Riley’s style, especially her hair, look amazing!”
In fact, the spin-off series Dream Productions is actually set between the two Inside Out films. It is a little bit before the new emotions seen in the sequel move in to Riley HQ. The image is a mock movie poster based on Riley’s dreams as they are produced like a major motion picture.
Inside Out 2’s story primarily revolved around Riley becoming a teenager and thus having to deal with more complex feelings. In the four-part Disney+ show, it is referred to more than once that she is ‘nearly 13.’
However, the show deals with similar themes of growing up and moving on from childhood. This involves having a version of the main character eventually portrayed as a ‘teen Riley’ in one of her dreams.
‘Goth Riley’ is based on a drawing Riley made as an aspirational version of her teenage self. So while any eventual sequel could see her looking similar, her appearance for a third installment could still change.
Neither Pixar nor Disney have confirmed that Inside Out 3 is in the works. However, after the second entry of the film surpassed $1 billion at the box office globally, it feels a safe bet.
Popular theories already suggest we could see Riley throughout High School and perhaps on her way to college similar to a storyline in a later Toy Story film. It lines up with what the director Kelsey Mann has said about the potential project.
She told Empire: “But people are excited for seeing Riley’s life — her whole life. They want to see Riley grow up. There are so many great ideas that we weren’t able to get into this film, or the original. I really hope those ideas have a home one day.”
In terms of the future of Dream Productions, a season two could easily be set in the same timeframe or even between Inside Out 2 and 3 should another series be greenlit.
Dream Productions is streaming on Disney+